fass 





39th Congress ) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. ( Ex. Doc. 
1st. Session. j ( No. 20. 



-i- 



U573 ^ '^'^^^^ ^ yCXo^^ ' 

bpy 1 ' 

MEXICAN AFFAIRS. 

'7 C' / 



ii 

MESSAGE // 



PRESIDENT OF THE OTITED STATES, 

4" IN AN SAVER TO 

A resolution of the House of the IQth ultimo, transmitting report of the Secre- 
tary of State on that subject. 



January 9, 1866 — Eeferred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed. 



To the House of Representatives : 

In compliance with the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 18th 
ultimo, requesting information in regard to steps taken by the so-called Emperor 
of Mexico, or by any European power, to obtain from the United States a recog- 
nition of the so-called empire of Mexico, and what action has been taken in 
the premises by the government of the United States, I transmit a report from 
the Acting Secretary of State, and the papers by which it was accompanied. 

ANDREW JOHNSON. 

Washington, January 5, 1S66. 



Department of State, 

Washington, Jamiary 4, 1866. 
The Acting Secretary of State, to whom has been referred the resolution of 
the House of Representatives of the 18th ultimo, requesting the President " to 
communicate to this house any correspondence or other information in possession 
of the executive department in regard to steps taken at any time by the so- 
called Emperor of Mexico, or by any European power, to obtain from the gov- 
ernment of the United States a recognition of the so-called empire of Mexico, 
and also what action, if any, has been had in the premises by the government 
of the United States," has the honor to lay before the President the papers 
mentioned in the subjoined list, called for by the said resolution. 

W. HUNTER, 
Acting Secretary of State. 
The President 



MEXICAN AFFAIRS. 

Liist of papers. 

Senor Arroyo to Mr. Corwin, ]\rarch 2, 1S65. 

Ml-. Seward to Mr. Corwiii, March 13, 1865. 

Memorandum read to Mr. Corwin by Mr. Seward, March 13, 18G5. 

Memorandum by Mr. Seward, July 17, 1SG5. 

Mr. Romero to Mr. Hunter, August 1, 1S65, with two enclosures. 

Mr. Seward to Mr. Romero, August 9, 1865. 

Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward, August 12, 1865. 

Mr. Seward to Mr. Romero, November 7, 1865. 

Mr. Seward to Mr. Bigelow, November 6, 1865. 

Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward, November 30, 1865. 

Mr. Seward to Mr. Bigelow, December 16, 1865. 

Mr. Montholon to Mr. Seward, November 29, 1865, with one enclosure, 

Mr. Seward to Mr. Montholon, December 6, 1865. 

Mr. Montholon to Mr. Seward, December 9, 1865. 

Mr. Seward to Mr. Bigelow, December 12, 1865. 



Scnor Arjoyo to Mr. Coricin. — (Confidential.) 
[Trauslatiou. ] 

New York, March 2, 1865. 

My DeA'R Sir: Under date of the 10th of January last his excellency Don 
Jose Ramirez, minister of state and of foreign affairs of the Mexican empire, 
authorizes me to address myself directly and confidentially to the honorable Mr. 
William Seward, Secretary of State, upon determinate points, which I will indi- 
cate to you when I may have the satisfaction of seeing you for the purpose. 

The same Mr. Ramirez tells me the following: ''You can see Mr. Corwin in 
my name and avail yourself of his influence, manifesting to him that I have re- 
gretted not to receive his reply to the letter which I addressed to him in August 
last." I therefore beg you to be pleased to aid me with your influence, in order 
to bring about and see whether the object of my commission can be obtained, 
not doubting that your kindness will cause you to assist me with your counsels 
and opinion. 

I think that you will be of opinion that I should go to your city (Washington) 
to solicit, verbally, the two points to which my mission is concreted, and 1 will 
accordingly do so; but, before undertaking the journey, 1 Avould be pleased if 
you would do me the favor, if you have an opportunity, to indicate to Mr. Sew- 
ard my expected journey, in order that, if he have no objection, that I should 
see him extra-ofiicially, he should so indicate it. 

You can at once, if you think proper, intimate to Mr. Seward that one of the 
points of my commission is to see Avhether the habilitation (recognition) of our 
consuls can be obtained because of the embarrassments which exist in conse- 
quence of their non-habilitation, (non-recognition ;) and while in Mexico the exer- 
cise of their functions has been continued without embarrassment to the American 
consuls, and that the government, which was that of Don Benito Juarez, does 
not exist either de facto or de jure. 

You will excuse me for writing to you in my own language, as I do not know 
the English with the requisite perfection. 

I avail myself of this occasion to place myself at your disposition as your 
most obedient servant, Ike, &c., kc. 

LUIS DE ARROYO, 

Box No. 4202. 

Mr. Thomas Corwi.v, WasJiington. 

Note. — The foregoing letter was, submitted to the Secretary of State by Mr. 
Corwiu in the early part of thc'mpnth of March, 1865. 



^ MEXICAN AFFAIES. 

c_- Mr. Seward to Mr. Coricin. 



^ Department of State, 

^ Washington, March 13, 1865. 

Mr. Seward presents his compliments to Mr. Oorwin, and -will tliank tim to 
call at this department as soon as he can conveniently do so. 
Hon. Thomas Oorwin, S^c, Sfc, S,'c. Washington, D. C. 



Memorandiim. 



Department of State, 

Washington, March 13, 1865. 

Mr. Seward read to Mr. Corwin as follows : 

It is a fixed habit of this government to hold no of&cial intercourse with agents 
of parties in any country which stand in an attitude of revolution antagonistic 
to. the sovereign authority in the same country with which the United States are 
on terms of friendly diplomatic intercourse. 

It is equally a fixed habit of this government to hold no unofficial or private 
interviews with persons with whom it cannot hold official intercourse. 

For these reasons the overture, submitted by Mr. Oorwin to the Secretary of 
State, is declined. 



Memorandum hy Mr. Seward. 

On the 17th day of July, 1865, the Marqxiis de Montholon called at the De- 
partment of State, and said that a special agent had arrived at Washington from 
Mexico, and that he was the bearer of a letter signed Maximilian, and addressed 
to the President of the United States, a copy of which the Marquis submitted 
to the Secretary of State, saying that the agent was instnicted to deliver the 
letter if it should be agreeable to the government of the United States. He also 
said that the agent brought papers to make explanations and adopt proceedings 
in relation to certain transactions on the Rio Grande, upon which the United 
States government had made representations to the imperial government of 
France. 

The Secretary replied, that inasmuch as the letter referred to was directly ad- 
dressed to the President of the United States, the Secretary would reserve him- 
self until he should have had a conversation with the President upon the sub- 
ject. 

On the 18th the Secretary of State delivered back the copy of the letter to 
the Marquis de Montholon, and said that the United States are in friendly com- 
munication now, as heretofore, with the republican government in Mexico, and, 
therefore, cannot depart from the course of proceeding it has heretofore pursued 
towards that country, and of course that the President declined to receive the 
letter, or to hold any intercourse with the agent who brought it. 

WILLIAM H. SEWARD. 



4 MEXICAN AFFAIRS. 

Mr. Romero to Mr. Hunter. 
[Trauslation. ] 

Mexican Legation in the United States of America, 
Washington, August 1, 1865. 

Mr. Acting Secretary : I have the honor to enclose to you a copy of a note 
which the consul general of Mexico, residing in New York, addressed to me 
nnder date of yesterday, calling my attention to the annexed advertisement pub- 
lished in the World of the 20th of July last past, by Don Luis Arroyo, who 
calls himself the consul named for that city by the so-called Mexican empire. 

I deem it proper to call to notice that Don Luis Arroyo, under the title of 
commercial agent, is about to exercise, as is advertised, all the functions to 
which he might be entitled if he were the true consul of Mexico, with the re- 
spective exequatur of the government of the United States. For this reason I 
beg you to have the goodness to commuuicate to me the views of the govern- 
ment of the United States upon two points, upon which I require to fix my ideas 
before adopting an opinion upon this matter. The first is, whether the govern- 
ment of the United States considers that the ex- Archduke Ferdinand Maxi- 
milian has the right to appoint in this country commercial ag'ents who shall 
publicly exercise the functions of consul, or whether this right belongs solely 
to the governments whose existence is neither doubtful nor questionable. 

According to my understanding, this government only sees in the republic 
of Mexico a war between it and France, without recognizing there Maximilian, 
not even as a government de facto. 

The second point is, whether such commercial agents can exercise the func- 
tions of consuls, not only without a formal excquattir, but also without any other 
sort of permission or recognition from the government of the United States. 

I must make known to you that up to this period the French consul in New 
York had been performing the functions which Don Luis Arroyo pretends now 
to exercise, which was perhaps more logical and manifested more consideration 
for the government of the United States, inasmuch as the French consul has 
an cxcqiiatur from this Government, and represents more genuinely the order of 
things established in Mexico by the army of Napoleon III. The change which 
is now made seems to be directed to manifest that the government of the United 
States tacitly recognizes as a government de facto the work of the French in- 
tervention in Mexico. 

I avail myself of this opportunity to reiterate to you, sir, the assurances of 
my distinguished eonsideration. 

M. ROMERO. 

•WiLLiA.M Hunter, Esq., ^r., ifc, ^c. 



[Euclosure No. 1. — Translation.] 

Consulate General of the Mexican Republic in the U. S., 

Nero York, July 31, 1865. 

In the number of the World dated the 29th instant, a Mr. Arroyo, who calls 
himself the consul of the Mexican empire in the city of New York, has pub- 
lished an advertisement, of which I enclose you a copy, in which he gives notice 
to the merchants of this port who may send effects to Mexico, that all the cer- 
tificates of invoices and manifests must be authorized by himself, and not by the 
undersigned. 

As it is well known that the said Mr. Arroyo cannot exercise in this country 
consular functions, because he has not the exequatur of the government of the 



MEXICAN AFFAIRS. 5 

United States, a requisite which I alone possess, I have the honor to bring this 
fact to the knowledge of your legation, that you may, if you deem it proper, 
obtain from the Cabinet of Washington a measure that will put an end to this 
abuse, through which the laws of this country are mocked, which provide that 
in order to be enabled to perform the duties of consul, the exequatur of the 
President is required. 

I have the honor to protest to you on this occasion my most distinguished 
consideration. 

Independence and liberty ! 

JUAN N. NAVAKRO. 
The Senor Minister Plenipotentiary 

Of the Mexican Rejmhlic at Washington. 

A true copy : 

F. D. MACIN. 

Washington, August 1, 1865. 



[Enclosure No. 2.— From The World, of July 29, 1865.] 

Tirade with Mexico. — Decree of Maximilian loith regard to invoices and mani- 
fests of merchandise forivarded to Mexican ports. 

New York, July 28, 1865. 
To the Editor of The World 

Sir : Desiring that the commercial community may come to the knowledge 
of the adjoining decrees, I request yotxr kindness to order its publication in the 
columns of your valuable journal, and oblige 
Your most obedient servant, 

LOUIS DE ARROYO, 

No. 42 Broadway. 

Department of the Treasury, 

Mexico, January 24, 1865. 

(Section 1. — Circular No. 35.) 

Consuls and vice-consuls from the empire of Mexico having been already 
appointed and residing in foreign countries, it appertains to them to legalize 
the invoices and manifests of merchandise forwarded to our ports, and also all 
documents required by the laws to be legalized. The agents appointed by the 
administration of Don Benito Juarez will cease in their functions, as such ad- 
ministration came to an end since the 31st of May, 1863. 

Therefore, I would direct you, by order of his Majesty the Emperor, to notify 
the commerce of that city that hereafter all such above- stated documents must 
be indispensably legalized by the agents of the empire. All invoices and mani- 
fests of vessels coming into the ports of said empire, certified by the form(?r 
agents, whose appointments have not been renewed by the actual administra- 
tion, shall be considered of no value, and shall not produce any legal effect or 
evidence whatever. 

All which I communicate to you so as to have the same duly published, 
hoping that when you will acknowledge the receipt of this order you will 
inform me the day that the publication has been made, in order to advise it to 
the collectors of the custom-houses on the sea-ports. 

M. DE CASTILLO, 
Sub- Secretary of the Treasury. 

Louis de Arroyo, 

Consul, acting as Commercial Agent, New York. 



MEXICAN AFFAIRS. 



Mr. Seward io Mr. Bomcro. 



Department of State, 

Wasliington, August 9, 1865. 

Sir : Your note of the 1st instant has been received, in which you ask the 
attention of this department to an advertisement published in The New York 
Workl, of the 29th ultimo, by Don Louis Arroyo, in which that person gives 
notice that shippers to Mexican ports must have their invoices and manifests 
attested by him, as consul of the Mexican empire, in the city of New York. 

In reply, 1 have to state that this department is not aware of any law of the 
United States which forbids a person claiming to be a consul of a foreign 
power from making on his own responsibility a publication of the character to 
which you refer. 

It cannot be necessary for me to repeat what has uniformly been said by 
this government in all its official correspondence, that no other than the repub- 
lican government in Mexico has been recognized by the United States. You 
are aware, however, that the party in arms against that government is, and for 
some time past has been, in possession of some, at least, of the ports of Mexico. 
That possession carries with it, for the time being, a power to prescribe the 
terms upon Avhich foreign commerce may be carried on with those ports. If, 
as is presumed to be the case, one of those conditions is, that the invoices and 
manifests of vessels from abroad, bound to those ports, must be certified by a 
commercial agent of the party in possession, residing in the port of the foreign 
country from •which the vessel may proceed, it is not perceived what effective 
measures this government could properly take in the premises. Such a com- 
mercial agent can perform no consular act relating to the affairs of his country- 
men in the United States. To prohibit him from attesting invoices and mani- 
fests, under the circumstances referred to, would be tantamount to an interdic- 
tion of trade between the United States and those Mexican ports which are not 
in possession of the republican government of that country. The consuls of 
the United States in Mexico, who have their exequaturs from that government 
only, themselves discharge duties as commercial agents in the ports which are 
not under the control of that government in all respects like those which the 
person Arroyo, in the same way and to the same extent, claims to do at New 
York in respect to said ports. 

I avail myself of this occasion to offer to you, sir, renewed assurances of my 
high consideration. 

WILLIAM H. SEWARD. 

Senor Don Matias Romero, ip., Sfc, Sfc, New York City. 



. Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward. 

Translation.] 
Mexican Legation in the United States of America, 

New York, August 12, 1865. 
Mr. Secretary : I have had the honor of receiving your note of the 9th 
instant, in reply to mine of the 1st, asking questions of the department about the 
proceedings of Louis Arroyo, who has opened an office in this city, as commer- 
cial agent of the pretended Mexican empire. 

As your note contains no positive answer to my interrogation, although it 
clearly indicates the steps to be taken by the United States government in the 
affair, I have thought it my duty, considering the circumstances of the case, to 



MEXICAN AFFAIRS. 7 

submit the question to the government of Mexico, and wait for instructions to 
direct me in regard to it. 

I embrace this opportunity of renewing the assurances of my most distin- 
guished consideration. 

M. ROMErvO. 

Hon. William H. Seward, ^c, Sfc, Sfc. 



Mr. Seicard to Mr. Rojnero. 

/ Department op State, 

Washington, November 7, 1SG5. 
Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 12th of 
August, in reply to the one I addressed to you, on the 9th of the same month, 
when answering your previous note of August 1, 1865, remonstrating against 
the course pursued by SeSor Louis Arroyo, who styles himself the commercial 
agent of the so-called empire of Mexico, and which correspondence, you are 
pleased to inform me, you have submitted to your government for its instruc- 
tions respecting the position assumed by the United States in that connexion. 
■ I avail myself of this occasion to repeat the assurances of my very distinguished 
consideration. 

WILLIAM H. SEWARD. 
Seuor Matias Romero, S^c, &fc., Sfc, Washington, D. C. 



Mr. Seward to Mr. Bigeloic. 
[Extract.] 

No. 300.] Department of State, 

Washington, Nommher 6, 1865. 

My Dear Sir : * * * * * * 

I will proceed to discuss the subject, and leave you to present the opinions of 
the President to such extent and in such manner as your own views of propriety 
shall suggest. The President feels himself bound to adhere to the opinion set 
forth in my despatch No. 259, which has, as we understand, been already read 
to Mr. Drouyn de I'Huys. The presence and operations of a French army in 
Mexico, and its maintenance of an authority there, resting upon force and not 
the free will of the people of Mexico, is a cause of serious concern to the United 
States. Nevertheless, the objection of the United States is still broader, and 
includes the authority itself which the French army is thus maintaining. That 
authority is in direct antagonism to the policy of this government and the prin- 
ciple upon which it is founded. 

Every day's experience of its operations only adds some new confirmation of 
the justice of the views which this government expressed at the time the at- 
tempt to institute that authority first became known. The United States have 
hitherto practiced the utmost frankness on that subject. 

They still regard the effort to establish permanently a foreign and imperial 
government in Mexico as disallowable and impracticable. For these reasons 
they could not now agree to compromise the position they have heretofore as- 
sumed. They are not prepared to recognize, or to pledge themselves hereafter 
to recognize, any political institutions in Mexico which are in opposition to the 
republican government with which we have so long and so constantly main- 
tained relations of amity and friendship. I need hardly repeat my past assu- 
rances of our sincere desire to preserve our inherited relations of friendship with 



/ 



8 MEXICAN AFFAIRS. 

France. This desire greatly increases our regret that no communications, for- 
mal or informal, Avhich have been received from the government of that country- 
seem to justify us in expecting that France is likely soon to be ready to remove, 
as far us may depend upon her, the cause of our deep concern for the harmony 
of the two nations. 

The suggestion which you make of a willingness on the part of France to 
propose a revision of the comm.crcial relations between the two countries is not re- 
garded as having emanated from the government of the empire. HoAvever that 
may be, it is hardly necessary to say that we should not be dwelling so earn- 
estly upon the branch of political relations if it had not been our conviction that 
those relations at the present moment supersede those of commerce in the con- 
sideration of the American people. 

Believe me to be always faithfully vours, 

WILLIAM H. SEWARD. 

John Bigelovv, Escj., ^-c, Sfc, SjV. 



Mr. Bigdow to Mr. Seward. 
[Extract.] 

No. 209.] Legation of the United States, 

Paris, November 30, 1865. 

Sir : Upon reflection I concluded that I should be likely to leave more cor- 
rect impressions, and perhaps exclude some erroneous ones from the mind o 
Monsieur Drouyn de I'lluys, by reading your despatch No. 300 to him, than by 
leaving him, after our interview on Thursday week, to imagine its contents. I 
accordingly called upon his excellency on Tuesday last, and after disposing of 
some other matters of less importance, told him frankly that I wished to read to 
him the despatch, to the contents of which I had referred at our last interview, 
to prevent his supposing it contained anything which I had thought proper or 

had been instructed to conceal from him. 

******** 

When I had finished he thanked me for reading the despatch, though he felt 

obliged to say that he derived neither pleasure nor satisfxction from its contents. 
******** 

I am, sir, your obediciit servant, 

JOHN BIGELOW 



Mr. Seward to Mr. Bigeloiv. 

No. 332.] Uepartment of State, 

Washington, Dccemher 16, ]S65. 

Sir : Your despatch of November 30, No. 209, was duly received, and it has 
been submitted to the President. 

Your proceeding in reading my despatch. No. 300, to Mr. Drouyn de I'Huys 
is approved. The general tenor of the remarks made by you to the minister of 
foreign affairs on that occasion is likewise approved. It is not the executive de- 
partment of this government alone which is interested and concerned in the 
question whether the present condition of things shall be continued in Mexico. 
The interest is a national one, and in every event Congress, which is now in 
session, is authorized by the Constitution and is entitled to direct by law the 
action of the United States in regard to that important subject. 



mp:xican affairs. 9^ 

It has beea the Presiclciit'a purpose that France should be respectfully in- 
formed upon two points, namely : 

First. That the United States earnestly desire to continue and to cultivate 
sincere friendship with France. 

Second. That this policy would be brought into imminent jeopardy, unless 
France could deem it consistent with her interest and honor to desist from the 
prosecution of armed intervention in Mexico, to overthrow the domestic repub- 
lican government existing there, and to establish upon its ruins the foreign mon- 
archy which has been attempted to be inaugurated in the capital of that country. 

In answer to an exposition of our views which was thus made, the suggestion 
was offered to you by Mr. Drouyn de I'Huys that the government of the 
United States might favor the express desire of the Emperor to withdraw from 
Mexico, by giving to him some formal assurance that in the event of his with- 
drawal this government Avould recognize the institution of Maximilian in Mexico 
as de facto a political power. 

It was my desire, in framing the despatch No. 300, to express in behalf of 
the United States a decision that the recognition which the Emperor had thus 
suggested cannot be made, and to assign, by Avay of explanation, the grounds 
upon which that decision Avas based. I have carefully considered the argu- 
ments against that decision which were presented to you by Mr. Drouyn de 
THuys in the interview referred to, and I do not find in them any sufficient 
reasons for modifying the views which the United States have expressed. 

It remains now only to make known to Mr. Drouyn de I'Huys my profound 
regret that he has thought it his duty to leave the subject, in his conversation 
with you, in a condition that does not authorize an expectation on our part 
that a satisfactory adjustment of the case can be effected on any basis that thus 
far has been discussed. 

I am, sir. voxxr obedient servant, 

WILLIAM H. SEWARD. 

John Bioelow, Esq., Sfc, S^c, dc. 



The Marquis de Montholon to Mr. Seward. 
[Translation.] 

Washington, November 29, 1S65. 
My Dear Sir : Conforming to the desire you expressed to me, I send you, 
herewith, a copy and translation of Mr. Drouyn de I'Huys's despatch, the con- 
tents of which I have had the honor to read to you. 

With the highest regards, I remain, my dear sir, respectfully yours, 

MONTHOLON 
Hon. W. H. Seward, Secretary/ of State, S^c, &fc., S^c. 



Monsieur Drouyn dc THuys to the Marquis de Montholon. — (Confidential.) 

[Translation.] 

Ministre DBS Affaires Etrangeres, 

Paris, October 18, 1865. 
Monsieur le Marquis : I have taken several occasions since two months 
to advise you of the dispositions of the imperial government concerning the 
duration of the occupation of Mexico by the French troops. I told you, in 
my despatch of August 17, that we called with our most sincere wishes for 
the day when the last French soldier should leave the country, and that the 
cabinet of Washington could contribute to hasten that moment. On the 2d of 
Ex. D.-c. -30 -2 



10 MEXICAN AFFAIRS. 

September 1 renewed (o yoii the assurance of our strong desire to withdraw 
our auxiliary corps so soon as circumstances should allow it. At last, follow- 
ing the same ideas more fully, in a private letter of the 10th of the same month 
I added that it greatly depended upon the United States to facilitate the de- 
parture of our troops. If they would adopt toward the Mexican government an 
amicable attitude which would aid to the consolidation of order, and in which 
we could find motives of security for the interests which obliged us to carry 
arms beyond the Atlantic, we would be ready to adopt without delay the bases 
of an understanding on this subject Avith the cabinet of Washington ; and I . 
wish to make fully known to you noAv the views of the government of his 
Majesty. 

What we ask of the United States is to be assured that their intention is not 
to impede the consolidation of the new order of things founded in Mexico ; 
and the best guarantee we could receive of their intention would be the recog- 
nition of the Emperor Maximilian by the federal government. 

The American Union should not, it seems to us, be kept back by the differ- 
ence of institutions, for the United States have official intercourse with all the 
monarchies of Europe and of the New World. It is in conformity with their 
own principles of public law to regard the monarchy established in Mexico as 
being, at least, a government " de facto, ^^ without particular regard to its nature 
or its origin, which has been consecrated by the suffrage of the people of that 
coimtry ; and in thus acting the cabinet of Washington Avould only be in- 
spired with the same feelings of sympathy which President Johnson expressed 
recently to the envoy of Brazil, as guiding the policy of the United States to- 
wards the younger states of the American continent. 

Mexico, it is true, is still occupied at this moment by the French army, and 
we can readily see that this objection will arise. But the acknowledgment of 
the Emperor Maximilian by the United States would, in our opinion, have suf- 
ficient influence upon the state of the country to allow us to take in considera- 
tion their susceptibilities on this subject ; and should the cabinet of Washing- 
ton decide to open diplomatic relations Avith the court of Mexico, we would see 
no difficulty to enter in arrangement for the recall of our troops Avithin a rea- 
sonable period of Avhich Ave Avould — might consent to fix the termination. 

In consequence of the A'icinage and immense extent of the common frontier, 
the United States are, more than any other poAver, interested to see their trade 
Avith Mexico placed under the safeguard of stipulations in harmony Avith the 
mutual wants of both countries. We would most readily offer our good offices 
to facilitate the conclusion of a commercial treaty, thereby cementing the 
political "rapprochement," the bases of Avhich I have just made known to you. 

By order of the Emperor, I invite you to make known to Mr. SeAvard the 
dispositions of his Majesty's government. 

You are authorized, if you think it proper, to read him the contents of this 
despatch. 

I remain, 

DROUYN DE L'HUYS. 

The Maoquis de Montholon, h^x., bjc, i^x. 



Mr. Seward to the Marquis dc Montkolon. 

Depautment of State, 

Washington, Deccmhcr 6, 1865. 
Sir : Having made known to the President the Emperor's views on Mexican 
affairs which you communicated to me on the 29th ultimo, I have now the honor 
to inform you of the disposition of this government in regard to the same subject. 



MEXICAN AFFAIKS. ^ 11 

It seems proper, however, for me to say, in the first place, that what I have to 
communicate has been ah-eady fully made known to Mr, Bigelow, with authority, 
in his discretion, to impart the same to Mr. Drouyn de I'Huys. 

The effect of the Emperor's suggestions when they are reduced to a practical 
shape seems to he this : that France is willing to retire from Mexico as soon 
as she may, but that it would be inconvenient for her without first receiving 
from the United States an assurance of a friendly or tolerant disposition to the 
power which has assumed to itself an imperial form in the capital c^y of 
Mexico. The President is gratified with the assurance you have thus given of 
the Emperor's good disposition. I regret, however, to be obliged to say that 
the condition the Emperor suggests is one which seems quite impracticable. 

It is true, indeed, that the presence of foreign armies in an adjacent country 
could not, under any circumstances, but cause uneasiness and anxiety on the 
part of this government. It creates for us expenses which are inconvenient, 
not to speak of dangers of collision. Nevertheless, I cannot but infer from the 
tenor of your communication, that the principal cause of the discontent prevail- 
ing in the United States in regard to Mexico is not fully apprehended by the 
Emperor's government. The chief cause is not that there is a foreign army in 
Mexico ; much less does that discontent arise from the circumstances that that 
foreign army is a French one. We recognize the right of sovereign nations to 
carry on war with each other if they do not invade our right or menace our 
safety or just influence. The real cause of our national discontent is, that the 
French army which is now in Mexico is invading a domestic republican gov- 
ernment there which was established by her people, and with whom the United 
States sympathize most profoundly, for the avowed purpose of suppressing it 
and establishing upon its ruins a foreign monarchical government, whose pres- 
ence there, so long as it should endure, could not but be regarded by the people 
of the United States as injurious and menacing to their own chosen and en- 
•deared republican institutions. 

I admit that the United States do not feel themselves called upon to make a 
war of propagandism throughout the world, or even on this continent, in the re- 
publican cause. We have sufficient faith in the eventual success of that cause 
on this continent, through the operation of existing material and moral causes, 
to induce us to acquiesce in the condition of things which we found existing 
ihere, while our own republic was receiving its shape and development. On the 
■ other hand we have constantly maintained, and still feel bound to maintain, that 
the people of every state on the American continent have a right to secure for 
themselves a republican government if they choose, and that interference by 
foreign states to prevent the enjoyment of such institutions deliberately estab- 
lished is wrongful, and in its effects antagonistical to the free and popular form 
•of government existing in the United States. We should think it wrong as well 
as unwise, on the part of the United States, to attempt to subvert by force mon- 
archical governments in Europe for the purpose of replacing them with republi- 
can institutions. It seems to us equally objectionable that European states 
should forcibly intervene in states situated on this continent to overthrow re- 
publican institutions, and replace them with monarchies or empires. 

Having thus frankly stated our position, I leave the question for the considera- 
tion of France, sincerely hoping that that great nation may find it compatible 
with its best interests and its high honor to withdraw from its aggressive atti- 
tude in Mexico, within some convenient and reasonable time, and thus leave the 
people of that country to the free enjoyment of the system of republican govern- 
ment which they have established for themselves, and of their adherence to which 
they have given what seems to the United States to be decisive and conclusive, 
as well as very touching, proofs. I am, sii', the more inclined to hope for such 
.a solution of the difficulty for the reason that when, at any time within the last 
■four years, the question has been asked of any American statesman, or even of 




12 MEXICAN AFFAIRS. g 0^5 833 387 9 

any American citizen, what country in Europe was the one which was least 
likely to experience an alienation of the friendship of the United States, the 
answer was promptly given, France. Friendship with France has always been 
deemed important and peculiarly agreeable by the American people. Every 
American citizen deems it no less important and desirable for the future than 
for the past. 

The President will be pleased to be informed of the reception which the Em- 
peror gives to the suggestions which I have now made. 

Accept, sir, the renewed assurances of my very high consideration. 

WILLIAM H. SEWARD. 



Marquis de Montlwlon to Mr. Seward. 
[Translation.] 

Legation of France to the United Sta'J'es, 

Washington, December 9, ISGo. 
Sir : I hasten to acknowledge the reception of your excellency's note of the 
6th December, in answer to my communication of the 29th ultimo. 

I will not fail to transmit, without delay, this important document to the gov- 
ernment of the Emperor. 

Accept the assurances of my high consideration. 

MONTHOLON. 
Hon. William H. Seward, Sfc, Sfc., &^c., 

Washington, D. C. 



Mr. Seward to Mr. Bigclvw. 

No. 327.] Department of State, 

Washington, December 12, IS60. 

Sir : I enclose for your information a translation of a communication of the- 
*29th ultimo from the Marquis de Moutholou, proposing, upon conditions, to 
withdraw from Mexico the French troops. A copy of my reply is also enclosed. 
I am, sir, your obedient servant, 

WILLIAM II. SEWARD. 
John Bioelow, Esq., d^c, S^x., &fc. 

*Sce letter of 29th November, its enclosure, iiuJ reply of Secretary Seward, December (5.. 
186.'3. 



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